These are your #LocalHeroes — ordinary people doing extraordinary things in Sweetwater County. This SweetwaterNOW series highlights those often unnoticed acts of kindness to the incredible actions of many in our community.
Tami Christensen, like many of the good folks in Sweetwater County, recently wrapped up her 15th edition of the Shop With a Cop during the first weekend of December. In each of those 15 years of the program, she has made sure the Christmas spirit finds a way into the homes of the less fortunate in Sweetwater County.
Over 17 years ago, Christensen became a member of the Kiwanis Club of Rock Springs. For the first few years, she helped with Shop With a Cop. When the current Chairperson heading the program decided to step down, she knew it was the perfect opportunity for her to help underprivileged children in the community.
“I think a lot of times we don’t fully realize just how many children and families don’t have the same experiences at Christmas that we do,” Christensen said. “The need is great to help out as many of them as we can through projects such as Shop With a Cop.”
Putting the event together each year is no simple task, but a rewarding one at that. Each year, Christensen begins by gathering eligible children, making calls to parents and setting up a date. From there, she solicits donations to help fund the project and coordinates with Wal-Mart to prepare everything that needs to happen the morning of the shopping. But the most important part is coordinating with local law enforcement entities to make sure there are enough officers to pair with the children. She also organizes volunteers from the Kiwanis Club, local businesses and other individuals who help with taking photos, mailing out those photos and distributing the gift cards and McDonald’s certificates the morning of the event.
The outcome from the hard work always pays off. Over Christensen’s time as the Chairperson of Shop With a Cop, over 600 children have been able to put Christmas gifts under the tree.
The Shop With a Cop program is an incredible asset to the community worth highlighting. It goes to show how far a bit of time focusing on others can go, and Christensen is a prime example of what that looks like.
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